Top 5 things to do in Paris when it’s raining

Top 5 things to do in Paris when it’s raining

No matter the time of the year, Paris can be rainy. It can be a quick shower in the summer or long constant rain in winter, so you need to be prepared. Also, it is important for you to know which are the best things to do in Paris when it’s raining. The most famous places are usually very crowded on a rainy day. Everyone takes advantage of the weather to do inside activities, such as visiting the Louvre Museum, the Orsay Museum, and plenty more. But Paris is full of surprises, there so many things you can do to have fun while it’s raining cats and dogs! Find out what our Parisian insiders recommend for the top 5 things to do in Paris when it’s raining.

Go to the movies

Going to the movies may seem a little ordinary, but in Paris, you can make original out of the common. For instance, don’t go to those mainstream cinemas with Hollywood movies. Go the old French cinemas, like Le Balzac. Le Balzac is a mute movie theater that offers shows accompanied by an orchestra or a piano! You could also try the Escurial, an art house cinema or Le Champo, located in the Latin Quarter.

These movie theaters can offer you the opportunity to have a unique cinema experience. Because you will feel like you’ve traveled time! It is also a very romantic, so I’m sure your significant other will love it.

Go to the museum

Calm and covered, the museums remain the perfect way to spend hours when it’s raining! It’s one of the best things to do in Paris and also to become smarter. But be careful: everyone will have the same idea. The Louvre Museum and the Orsay Museum are the most famous museums, so you have to expect long waiting lines. Don’t go to the mainstream museums, as they are going to be overcrowded and filled with children dragging their feet. But you’re actually very lucky, because in Paris there are plenty of good museums!

The Musée de Cluny is great. It is dedicated to the Middle-Ages arts. You can also go to the Musée Carnavalet about the history of Paris in an incredible historic setting. Also try and see the Musée Jacquemart-André. Located in the mansion of an art collector, this may be the most stunning museum in Paris. The collections as well as the building itself are really worth seeing. You could also try to go to the Musée Guimet for Asian art. With art coming from all over the old colonial empire, this place is a trip to old-times Asia!

If you’re interested in Napoleon and the art of the war, you could visit the Invalides. Then, you also have the Musée du quai Branly that is about the primary arts, and its modern architecture is awesome… Rainy days are the best opportunity to visit unusual and interesting museums!

Go shopping in “Le Bon Marché”

Next on my top 5 things to do in Paris when it’s raining, is to go shopping in department stores, such as BHV Marais and the Galeries Lafayette. Paris is the city of fashion. Rainy days are the perfect time to visit the department stores, and I think it’s one of the best things to do when it’s cold. You can avoid the rain because the department stores are so big that it’s easy to spend hours inside!

The Printemps and Galeries Lafayette are the most beautiful in Paris and guarantee unforgettable moments, and also have some restaurants inside. Less known, the BHV Marais can replace a visit of the nearby Marais area. On the Left Bank of Paris, you can visit the Bon Marché and be like a true Parisian “bobo”. Outside of the fashion section, don’t miss the groceries section called “la grande épicerie de Paris“, which is a great place to go grocery shopping and feel like a Parisian!

Have a café in a covered passage

The Parisian covered passages are so charming. They obviously are on this top 5 things to do in Paris when it’s raining, but it’s also a great thing to do when it’s sunny! There are a lot of galleries, especially in the Marais neighborhood which are very beautiful. My favorite one is the Galerie Vivienne. It was built in 1823 and it is a wonder of Pompeian style. You will find some very nice places to have a drink and dry yourself from the rain. It also has a lot of different luxurious and beautiful shops: bookstores, clothes, shoes, little jewelry stores, art galleries, cafés and cute restaurants. You can spend a lot of time in a covered passage! The mosaic floors and the glass roof are simply stunning and so gorgeous. It’s a really romantic moment to have!

You could also try going to the Passage des Panoramas, in the Second District. It is the oldest covered passage in Paris, and is located between La Bourse and Opéra. Since 1974, it was classified as a historical monument.

Visit the greenhouses of Paris

To feel a tropical atmosphere in Paris is possible! I think it’s one of the most surprising things to do in Paris when it’s raining.It allows you to visit the parks of Paris and, still, to stay dry. The scenery will change! The majority of the greenhouses are old and their architecture is typical of the nineteenth century. Parisian greenhouses are like the Grand Palais, but green inside! Here are different greenhouses: you have the Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil with many very beautiful tropical greenhouses, and the four greenhouses of the Jardin des Plantes, which are my favorite!

You now know the top 5 things to do in Paris when it’s raining! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and that it has inspired you! As in Midnight in Paris, you can also walk in the rain! In Paris, it is a must do for lovers and romantics. It’s also the only option if you want to see an empty Paris.

See you soon in Paris!